The horse’s gastro-intestinal tract is a complex and amazing organ. It performs many functions which include processing and absorbing all the fluids and nutrients that sustain the body, as well as playing a huge role in the horse’s immune system. One of the most important functions of the GI tract is to act as a barrier between the external and internal environment—keeping the “good” stuff inside the body and the “bad bugs” out. Even though feed and water ingested by the horse may contain harmful pathogens, the barrier provided by the GI tract is usually sufficient to keep them from getting any farther, and they pass on out.
Continue reading …Inaugural Championship Show at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center is a Huge Success
January 23, 2022 Comments Off on Inaugural Championship Show at Ocala’s World Equestrian Center is a Huge Success
The World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida held its inaugural Championship Show from September 29th to October 10th, 2021 where $2,000,000 in cash and prizes were awarded. Of the facility’s available stalls in its 25 barns, 3,000 were sold for the show. Exhibitors traveled from both coasts and everywhere in between to compete for big money and exciting prizes.
Continue reading …
On September 16th, 2011 at 8:30 AM, trainers Chris and Melissa Jones welcomed daughter, Lilly Ann, into their lives. Melissa admits that she waited a bit too long before heading to the hospital. “It was after midnight, and I kept telling Chris to drive faster, which just made him even more nervous,” she laughs. “We made it just in time. I had an easy delivery for the most part, except for almost missing my time window to have an epidural.
Continue reading …Clay Arrington – Ready to Join the Pros in 2022
January 17, 2022 Comments Off on Clay Arrington – Ready to Join the Pros in 2022
Do you believe a true passion for horses is a heritable trait? Or is it a love that develops over years of learning and honing skills? Clay Arrington, a third-generation horseman, is a living example of both.
Continue reading …Combating Depression in the Horse Show Industry
January 13, 2022 Comments Off on Combating Depression in the Horse Show Industry
She walked to the outdoor pen, thinking she could calm her heart and dry her tears. She needed a quiet moment to herself. An assistant trainer to one of the leading performance trainers in the industry, her goal was to work hard, ride well, learn, and become one of the greats. Somewhere along the way, the minor stresses became harder to overcome on a daily basis. She couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, and struggled to get out of bed each morning, even when she told herself she was living her dream.
Continue reading …Futurity Programs Aplenty – Are We Spreading Ourselves Too Thin? Or is More Choices Better?
January 11, 2022 Comments Off on Futurity Programs Aplenty – Are We Spreading Ourselves Too Thin? Or is More Choices Better?
There are so many futurity and incentive programs these days: NSBA, BCF, Breeders Halter Futurity, WCHA futurity, Premier Sires, APHA Breeders Halter futurity, Super Sires, Southern Belle Breeders, and many more. Are there too many, and is the overwhelming number diluting the industry? Or do exhibitors and breeders feel they finally have the choices they need for greater diversification?
Continue reading …From Oregon to Texas – McCulloch Training Stables relocates to the Lone Star State
January 9, 2022 Comments Off on From Oregon to Texas – McCulloch Training Stables relocates to the Lone Star State
There’s no denying the majesty and natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. With four mountain ranges, swift flowing rivers, plains, plateaus, and a dramatic coastline, it’s a special place. It’s also more than a 20-hour drive to most major horse show venues, and averages 43 inches of precipitation spread out over 7-8 months of each year. These were factors Shannon McCulloch and her husband, Tom Bacon, weighed carefully before making the decision to partner with fellow Oregonians, Molly and Maria Salazar, to purchase the former Equine Salt Water Therapy Ranch in Pilot Point, Texas.
Continue reading …
Headshaking syndrome in horses is a sign of disease rather than a disease itself. There are multiple causes, and several veterinarians have done studies to explore the causes and find ways to treat them. Headshaking generally comes on suddenly—in a horse that has never done this before—then continues to occur sporadically.
Continue reading …A Boot in Both Worlds – Performance Industry Expansion into Barrel Racing
January 5, 2022 Comments Off on A Boot in Both Worlds – Performance Industry Expansion into Barrel Racing
During Chad Beus’s childhood, the distinction between business and pleasure was clear; the family’s Utah dairy farm was business, and horses were a hobby. However, once he and his wife, Tiffany, were married, they made horses their business–particularly making a name for themselves in the Halter horse industry. Since then, he’s racked up many accolades and expanded into other performance events. Recently, he headed in a different direction by jumping headfirst into Barrel Racing. He started with the Pink Buckle Series with his business partner, Lance Robinson. With a $2.7 million payout, it’s the world’s richest barrel race.
Continue reading …Remembering Carol Harris – A Fearless Horsewoman
January 3, 2022 Comments Off on Remembering Carol Harris – A Fearless Horsewoman
On August 7, 2021, the horse world lost a vibrant member with the passing of Carol Harris at the age of 98. To say she used every single one of those years to the fullest would be an understatement. Harris was a fearless horsewoman who loved her family, friends, dogs, and horses. Harris transformed the Quarter Horse world with her famous stallion, Rugged Lark, and helped mentor and inspire countless horsemen through the years. She was passionate about breeding for quality in both her beloved Thoroughbreds and Quarter Horses, and the influence from Bo-Bett Farm in Reddick, Florida will be felt for generations.
Continue reading …